Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

HD video-editing Mac

Jan 16, 2008 7:23AM PST

I'm looking to buy a Mac to edit HD video from my Canon HV20 (HDV format). I would like to run Final Cut Express. Right now I'm trying to decide between machines. Portability is nice, but not necessary.

iMac 20-inch 2.4Ghz
1GB RAM
320GB Hard Drive
ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB memory
+
$199 Final Cut
=
$1,698.00


Macbook 13-inch 2.2Ghz
1GB RAM
+
$150 1GB RAM- optioned up to compensate for no video memory
+
$199 Final Cut Express
=
$1,648.00

So, I can save $50 (not really a big deal) if I buy the laptop, even with it optioned up to 2GB RAM. And the laptop is more portable!

But I get 7 inches more screen and 256mb video memory if I go with the iMac. I get a measly .2Ghz more processor speed, and half the RAM.

The portability of the macbook is nice. But can I edit on it?

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Yes you can, but
Jan 16, 2008 8:32AM PST

there is a difference in the logic board architecture which will give the iMac a greater edge, other than the .2Ghz, over the MacBook.

The larger screen is a boon. Top it off with memory from a third party, crucial/ramject/etc., and you have yourself a mean editing machine.

JMO

P

- Collapse -
agree with mrmacfixit...
Jan 16, 2008 9:06AM PST

but will throw in my 2 cents...

If you NEED portability, then the answer is obvious. If you really don't need it, the iMac will be much more palatable. In either case, you can add an external monitor for more square footage during editing (I think you will want that - especially if you are using FCP.

Either machine will edit the video - once it is imported - with no problems... the first issue you will encounter is during the import, then comes transitions and titles/credits or any other activity where video rendering is required... and last, the export (to a QuickTime, AVI or MP4 file - or burning a DVD - in each case, it is that rendering that is really CPU intensive.

Two additional considerations:

If you go the iMac route, get the RAM up to at least 2 gig (more is better if/when you can afford it). You can install it yourself, so no need to pay premium prices from Apple.

Internal hard drive space will get eaten pretty quickly. In addition to the Operating system and installed apps and possibly other documents/files (iPhoto, iTunes, etc...), 1 hour of imported HDV will take up ~40 gig of hard drive space. Yes, you will be editing and removing projects when done - but there may come a time when more than one project is being worked simultaneously. External Firewire drives work fine.

And actually, if you have power available, the iMac is not that big of a deal to move since there are really only 3 pieces to it... the CPU/monitor, mouse and keyboard. So if you go into a coffee shop, just sit by the wall with the power. I guess a protective case of some sorts would be beneficial... Pretty tough to sit in the middle of the park (no power) and edit, though...

(My perspective: I've been editing HDV from a Sony HDR-HC1 for a couple of years - and mostly on my 17" iMac flatpanel 2GHz, 2 gig RAM, G5.)

- Collapse -
iMac
Jan 16, 2008 9:54AM PST

Thanks for your perspectives. It's also encouraging to hear that I can put in the ram myself- I've done it on a PC, but the Mac looks built tighter and I wasn't sure if that was doable.

I don't have plans to buy an external monitor, and portability is not paramount, merely a convenience. I'll go with the iMac.

And, just FYI, I have a 500GB Iomega external HDD with firewire 400 & 800. (I can't wait to use the 800! Right now I'm stuck on 400 with my PC...) I'll be moving this HDD around, rather than my computer (why I was considering a laptop)

This is a little off-topic, but hopefully it's ok to ask.
What is the most dirt cheap way to get Windows on a Mac using Bootcamp? XP or Vista is ok, even Vista home basic is fine. I just don't want to spend a bundle if I can help it.

- Collapse -
That external
Jan 16, 2008 10:09AM PST

if it is formatted as NTFS then the Mac will not be able to write to it. Read only.

If you format it for HFS+ (Journaled) then the PC will not be able to read it.

Just a thought

P

- Collapse -
More on the external
Jan 16, 2008 8:55PM PST

I mentioned the formatting because you said that you were going to be "moving this around"

P

- Collapse -
Thanks
Jan 17, 2008 1:31AM PST

Good to know. I'll be moving from Mac to Mac now, so it'll work out fine. Thanks for giving me the heads up.

So to format the hard drive, I guess I have to get it into a Mac and then use the Mac to format it?

I'm not handy with the Mac OS yet, hopefully it won't be too hard to format it.

- Collapse -
"So to format the hard drive,
Jan 17, 2008 1:49AM PST
I guess I have to get it into a Mac and then use the Mac to format it?"

"Into"? No... it sounds like that external you have is ready to go... Connect and format it, more likely. Firewire 800 (or FW400... or USB. Your pick. Connectivity option won't do much for formatting speed.

Disc Utility comes with the machine and should be sufficient.
- Collapse -
Yes, it will have to be formatted with a Mac
Jan 17, 2008 4:10AM PST

but that will be no problem for you as you are getting a new iMac.

At least I hope that's what you meant by "getting into"

Remember that ALL the information that is currrently on that drive will be destroyed when it is formatted to HFS+(Journaled) using Disk Utility. This application can be found in the Applications/Utilities folder.

P

- Collapse -
right
Jan 19, 2008 7:50AM PST

Sorry I meant "connect" or "plug in" I guess. It's going to be a pain to lose all my stuff while formatting, but oh well- I'll work it out. Thanks for the help.